Author name: highlandnews

A significant tranche of funding has been announced today for Reimagining Ramelton. €6.4m is being made available towards the €8m project under a major rural regeneration development fund. It will see the restoration of the House of the Brae and creating public spaces and amenities at Gambles Square and Market Square. Minister Charlie McConalogue says

A Letterkenny Councillor has warned that the Bonagee Lane is an accident waiting to happen. Concerns have been raised over the volume of vehicles using the route and the speed at which they are travelling. A motion was brought before a meeting of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District this week by Councillor Gerry McMonagle calling

The Housing Minister is meeting with the Chief Executive of Donegal County Council John McLaughlin tomorrow to discuss the progression of the Defective Blocks Redress Scheme. Last evening, Donegal County Council confirmed it is once again progressing the scheme after receiving clarification on the inclusion of deleterious materials other than Mica, with all applicants to

Social Housing in Dungloe has received a boost as over €1million has been allocated to refurbish eight apartments. A recommended budget of €1,052,019 has been set to convert and refurbish two group homes at Fairhill Lodge, Dungloe and turn them into eight two bedroom apartments for people on the social housing waiting list. The building

Donegal County Council’s Island’s Committee is stepping up its campaign to have a fire service developed on Tory Island. The issue was raised by Tory representatives at a meeting this week, and also at a meeting of the Glenties Municipal Distict. Tory has a population of around 120 people, but there is no fire station,

A Donegal Deputy says raw sewage is being discharged daily into eight towns and villages in Donegal as water treatment plants in the areas are not up to EU standard. The towns impacted are Burtonport, Coolatee, Falcarragh, Kerrykeel, Moville, Rathmullan, Ramelton and Kilcar. Deputy Pearse Doherty told the Dail raw sewage can carry severe risks

Donegal County Council’s Defective Concrete Blocks Committee has confirmed agreement has been reached with the Department of Housing about the inclusion of other deleterious materials in houses with Mica, and the scheme can now move again, particularly in terms of Stage 1 applications. The council will meet with the Engineer’s Ireland panel of chartered engineers

The Dail was adjourned for a time this afternoon after Deputy Marc MacSharry clashed with Leas Cheann Comhairle Catherine Connelly. Deputy MacSharry had asked a question about homelessness in Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim towards the end of the Order of Business, but because time was running out, Deputy Connelly asked the the question and answer

The Housing Minister has again been challenged to publish the Mulcahy Report into alleged planning irregularities on Donegal County Council, but says there are complexities which must be considered. In 2015, Senior Counsel Rory Mulcahy was asked to review allegations made by former planner Gerard Convie. It followed Mr Convie’s successful High Court challenge to

Politicians in Northern Ireland have been given until January 19th to form a new Government, with the possibility of a further extension. The pay of Stormont MLAs is also set to be cut in the absence of a functioning executive. Civil servants in Northern Ireland will be given limited powers to ensure the functioning of

The message needs to go out that Letterkenny is open for business for Christmas shopping. That’s according to Councillor Michael McBride who has called for an urgent review of traffic flow in the town ahead of the festive season. Donegal County Council has confirmed that a number of issues have been identified and it is

Councillor Patrick McGowan believes what appears to be fraud beggars being dropped off in Ballybofey is a form of organised crime. He says he has witnessed on a number of occasions people claiming to be begging being dropped off in Ballybofey and later picked up. It comes after the Cathaoirleach of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal

Residents in Burt are entering a third day without water. Repairs to a burst water main in the area are ongoing and are expected to be completed later today. Councillor Jack Murray says there has been a serious breakdown in communication from Irish Water with details as to when supply will be restored unavailable. He

Donegal County Council is being lobbied once again to tackle dereliction. The recent sitting of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District heard calls for the local authority to outline what steps have been taken to deal with derelict buildings and sites. Councillor Ciaran Brogan claims very little action has been taken to date. The council says

The Cathaoirleach of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District has raised serious concerns over reports of people being bused into the town and purporting to be beggars. Councillor Donal Mandy Kelly claims people are being intimidated by those begging on the street. He has acknowledged that their is an issue with homelessness in the town which

The owner of Wild Ireland says the reintroduction of wolves into the Irish countryside would change deer behaviour and decrease the population of the species. It follows a number of recent road traffic collisions involving deer in the county including an ambulance responding to an emergency in the Dungloe area. Cillian McLaughlin says the population

The Health Minister is facing further pressure to ensure ALL staff who worked in healthcare settings during the pandemic receive their 1,000 euro bonus payment before Christmas. Thousands of contract staff, like cleaners and porters, who served on the frontline have yet to be paid the tax-free bonus, promised back in January. South Donegal Deputy

Donegal County Council has been told that residents of the Gleann Tain estate in Letterkenny need reassurances that they will be supported in covering the running costs of a water pump. The local Residents Management Company has been forking out for electricity costs to facilitate the running of the Water Pump station with thousands paid

Councillors in West Donegal have been told progress has been made in a plan to construct up to 45 new houses in Dungloe. Cllr Noreen McGarvey had raised the issue at a meeting of Glenties Munucipal District, telling members that the pan was announced almost three years ago, but nothing has happened since. Officials said

Graffiti appearing in and around Letterkenny is creating fear and tension. That’s according to Councillor Jimmy Kavanagh who has urged Donegal County Council to put a policy in place to deal with graffiti. It’s in response to areas being branded with pro Russian graffiti. Councillor Kavanagh says it is completely unacceptable behaviour:

Tributes have been paid in the Dáil to the ten people who lost their lives in an explosion in Creeslough one month ago. Yesterday marked one month since the explosion and today, members of Dáil Éireann paid tribute to those who died, their families, the emergency services and volunteers and the local community. The tributes

Donegal County Council’s Islands Committee has been told a major road improvement programme is nearing completion on the county’s offshore islands. Just over 2.1 million euro has been invested in the programme, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Cllr Anthony Molloy is chair of the Islands Committee, he says

Gardai are hunting two people seen fleeing the scene of a criminal damage incident in Buncrana. At around 4am on Wednesday morning last the windows of a van parked at Main Street, Moville were smashed. Entry was not gained to the van and nothing was taken during the incident. Garda Claire Rafferty says those responsible

The couple taking the first legal case relating to defective blocks say they felt they had no option. William and Grainne Doherty borrowed money and spent €64,000 on remediation works when they realised their Malin Head home had Mica. They replaced the outer leaf, but have since confirmed found that the inner blocks are also

Concerns are being raised over the high level of oil spills on roads in Donegal. Councillor Michael McClafferty says there has been a notable increase in such incidents across the county resulting in roads being left in a dangerous condition. He says all motorists have a responsibility:  

An Inishowen Councillor claims there is an unfair bias against motorists with the chosen preferred route for the Bridgend to Buncrana Greenway. The €10m project has been shelved and will no longer be delivered by the INTERREG programme. Construction of the greenway is not now due to start until 2025. Councillor Nicholas Crossan has questioned